Half Way and a Registry

As far as pregnancy is concerned, we're past the half way mark. Needless to say, I'm feeling every part of it too. Baby is growing really quickly now. The pros to that are feeling and sometimes even seeing her move! The seeing it is a brand new thing, and probably one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Ben has also been able to feel her kicks. I am constantly reminded how God creates and forms each one of us the farther into this pregnancy I get. It truly is a beautiful picture of His power and His love. Please continue to pray for God's will to be done throughout this pregnancy, and for Baby S to be beautifully healthy and strong. 

Many of you have been asking me about a registry, so I wanted to include that in this post. We are registered at Amazon.com under Ben's name and at Target.com under his or my name. 

Here are the full pictures of our gender reveal! We are both thrilled that Baby S is a girl!! Can't wait to hold her and tell her all about Jesus' love for her. 

Psalm 127:3

"Children are a gift from the LORD; 

They are a reward from Him."
Psalm 127:3

Alright, it's story time. Let me tell you how awesome our God is and how perfect His timing is- seriously SO much better than our own. Before sharing some things from this last year with you, I have to share the verses I've gone back to several times. Romans 8:26-30...

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

LAST November, Ben and I found out that, for the first time, we were going to be parents. We were overjoyed! At the time we found out, I was only about 3-4 weeks along. Being the week of Thanksgiving, we thought it the perfect time to share the news with our families and friends. It truly was a time to be thankful! Everyone was so happy for us and for the blessing that God had given. After all, we know that God is the giver of life- the only One with the power and authority to grant the air to breath.

Only a few weeks later, the unthinkable and absolute worst thing happened. The tiny baby passed. Why would this happen? How could God allow something to occur? The feelings and emotions were so overwhelming and, because everyone knew, embarrassing. (However, for me emotionally it was better that our family knew because they were so comforting and loving during this time) For the first time in my life, I lost someone (yes, someone, because that 6 week old little baby was a life) close to me. In the midst of it all, I felt like a failure- like it was my fault the baby died. (This last part, friends, was far from the truth, and I know that now.)

Why do bad things happen to people? Why did God allow this to happen?

These questions I pondered day in and day out. I don't know if I can fully answer those questions, but what I do know is that God is STILL good and He will never ever fail me, no matter how painful the situation.

"The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." 

Isaiah 58:11

I know that the world God created was perfect and without sin, until we fell short and sinned against Him. I know that now sin and evil are present in this world. I know that I am a sinner. Despite that, God comforted me and loved me in the midst of tragedy. And even though I may not understand exactly WHY that baby died, I know that because of that horrible event in my life, God continually draws me closer to Him. The Holy Spirit helped me in this time of weakness because I didn't know how to pray or, at times, what to say to God. There were so many moments when the song In Christ Alone would get stuck in my head or would come on the radio. Every single time the same part of the song would jump out at me and bring tears to my eyes: "From life's first cry to final breath, JESUS COMMANDS MY DESTINY." And, ladies who read this, if you have gone through something like this before, I hope that you feel Jesus' loving arms through those words. Jesus went through the worst pain imaginable, and conquered it and loved us throughout the whole thing...and HE is the One who commands your destiny. (There is more about this and so much more in John 3)

There is peace knowing that that baby is resting in the arms of Jesus in a place with NO sin and NO evil...a perfect place, and maybe one day I will get to meet him/her.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Yes, ALL things He does work together for good to those who love Him. Was the event of losing that life necessarily a good thing? No, not really. But God made it good by growing Ben and I closer to Him, making us stronger, AND...

...giving another LIFE in HIS PERFECT TIME. God is omniscient. He knows my past, my present, and my future...and that is comforting, and really draws a desire to trust Him all the more.

Ben and I are so excited to meet our little one in April of next year. I am constantly reminded that God is the giver of this life and already knows the entire life of Baby S! How awesome is that!!

As of right now, I'm getting ready to enter week 16 of pregnancy. Like any other mommy-to-be, I have a few (okay more like 7-8) baby apps downloaded on my phone, and check them every day to see the development of Baby S. The excitedness grows more and more every single day. Is it possible to love someone SO MUCH whom you've only seen in an ultrasound?? I started feeling little flutters too, which just makes it a tad bit more real what is happening in my body. :) So overjoyed.

Here are a few more of the ultrasound pics from our last doctor visit... Baby S flipped all the way over!! Definitely saying "hey mom and dad look at me!!" haha... Hopefully at our next ultrasound we'll get to find out the gender?! We'll see and will update!! :)    

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."
Psalm 139:13-18

Everything New

       These past few weeks have been full of so many new things! Ben and I traveled (by CAR..so long!) to our new home. We got to know the area pretty well: see new sights, see some new movies, eat at new restaurants, meet some new people, look for a new church. It's been an adventure for sure! This place is so beautiful beyond what words can express. The mountains and the wildlife...so pretty!

       We are now in our new house and almost completely unpacked. It's like Christmas opening all these boxes and getting to set up and organize the house! :) Especially the kitchen...I've had a blast cooking some new recipes off of pinterest! While I'm organizing and going through things at the house, Ben has started back at work. The first day he went back it was so strange to be at the house all day by myself, so I looked up some gym classes and other local activities. I decided I will not spend all day alone at home...that is no way to meet new people and not the way I want to live. BUT in a few weeks I will be starting up my job at the daycare, and life will get a lot busier as I know it. Thanks be to God who provided that open door!

       Friends, if there is one thing I can ask you to pray for, it is for good friends here. That is probably the hard part about this whole journey. It's not easy being so far away from everyone that you love and care for. I know that God will provide; He always does.

Here are some pics of our journey so far:

Big trees!

The trees gradually got smaller and smaller...

This was the first big mountain we saw

This view was from one of the rest stops along the way..how unique looking!!!

On our way to see our house for the first time!!

Before we got our household goods, we resorted to picnic style! :)

One of many beautiful rainbows during the monsoon season here.

SO excited about our new washer and dryer!!

Our living room almost finished...minus the pictures on the walls.

Dining Area

My Kitchen!!! LOVE it!!

And of course...our music area :)

So many new things and new adventures- all of which are new blessings from Jesus Christ, who has made ALL things new. New isn't always easy, but if it's given by God, it is GOOD.

"So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone, a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ's ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, "Come back to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

2 Corinthians 5:15-21

Our Provider

Let me start this post by saying how awesome God is! 

I realize it's been a while since I posted anything on here. Reasoning being, we've been in a place of waiting this last month. Safe to say, we haven't really started our new journey at our new duty station yet. BUT that does not mean that God has not been blessing and growing us through out this process. Quite the opposite- God is showing us His love again and again, and providing for us every step of the way. 

This last month, Ben's been training and I've been visiting and packing. Here's a glimpse of how God has been providing for us: When we didn't know how long housing was going to take to get, we got answers and timing that were far beyond what we were expecting. When we thought I'd be jobless for a long time, He opened a door. When we thought money wouldn't be there, God gave. The verses out of 1 Thessalonians 5:23-25 are so relevant to us today,

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us." 

And, brothers and sisters, please do pray for us in this time. That God will continue to show us the way we should go, and that, throughout the rest of this transition, we will honor and glorify Him in all we do. Because that is what life is about, friends- loving Jesus. If there is anything I've learned these last few weeks it's this: It might be easier to love Jesus and to seek Him when times are hard, but it's when things seem fine and life seems grand that I really need Him. In those good times (yes, I think this transition time is good), He blesses me in ways I don't expect and may not understand. Love the season of life God has ya... in our case, a season of transition. 

God is always good. Always loving. Always deserving of our love. Always faithful. Always deserving of our faithfulness. 

Dad and I went fishing and caught nothing. :) Maybe next time?

Mom clipped the back of her ankle on the screen door, so we had an adventure at the ER where she got twelve stitches. She's healing up well and walking around normally already. 

Mom and I have been making all sorts of yummy things so I can put my wife-cooking-skills to practice. I'm no expert chef, but I think my homemade meat sauce turned out pretty delicious. :)

Soon, Ben and I won't have to take selfies anymore to send back and forth, but will be together again! Soon.

Like A Butterfly

Change. It never comes easy and always comes at a price. It can grow you or it can break you.
Change. It can bring transformation like a butterfly if I open my heart to God. 

This is the week- the week that Ben comes home from his training. This week we get to spend time with friends and family, who Ben has not seen in months. This week will bring a different kind of change. We get to get to know each other all over again in some ways, and get back to normal in other ways. Will this change be good? I think so. I think this transformation will be like a butterfly taking flight for the first time. 

For now, I think we are both very excited to say the least. Can you tell?

Only four more days...

Praise be to God for getting us through these last several months and for transforming us into who we are now. To HIM be all the glory and honor. 

"My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad."

~Psalm 34:2

Change. There is a whole lot more to come in this next year. There is no doubt in my mind that God will open many doors of opportunity to praise Him, serve Him, love Him, and grow in Him in all that we do and wherever we go.

Change. Are you ready for it?

HOOAH

To all our friends and family, this blog will have updates and stories of our lives. For those who do not know, in January of this year, Ben and I started a new journey together. He left Maryland to complete his Army Basic Training at Ft. Jackson. The weeks of training were long and hard, but God has brought both of us through it stronger. I'm not going to lie, this has by far been the hardest and most trying time of my life. I know God has a plan for us, but it is still hard. One thing I have truly treasured more than ever is old-fashioned letter-writing. :) Those are memories I will never forget. 

Ben is currently finishing up his last week of AIT, and will graduate next Thursday, the 22!! It's almost here. 

Now comes the hard part...moving. Moving far away from anyone and anything we know. We'll be headed out west to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona. Yup, that's right...desert land and lots of sand. We are still waiting for a date to report, but will hopefully find that out sometime this week. This is going to be a lot...a big change... I don't know if I'm quite ready yet. As I've been reading in Exodus about how God guided His people of Israel to the Promised Land, I am confident that He is the One guiding us in our lives. I think this reminder is how God is preparing me for the move. 

"You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation." ~Exodus 15:13

Friends, if there is anything I can ask of you, it is that you pray for us. Pray that God will give us strength and peace throughout all these changes, as they will be many.